Adjustable trailing switch connection for railroads



July 24, 1928. 1,678,618

N. D. PREsToN ADJUSTABLE TRAILING SWITCH lCONNECTION'-FR RAILROADS Filed Jan.1s, 1927' VI I6 Patented July 24, 1928.

STATES FTENT FFICE.

NEIL D. PRESTON, OF RGCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL RAILVIAY I SIGNAL COMPANY, OF .ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

.ADJUSTABLE TRAILING SWITCH CONNECTION FOR RAILROADS.

Application Ied January 13, 1927. Serial No. 160,905.

, and that the points be locked up or securely held, in one of the thrown positions, after such trailing operation.

Furthermore, when the switch is to be operated by power means, as by any usual or suitable power operated switch machine, it is desirable to have means for adjustably connecting the` switch machine throw lever to the track switch, so as to adjust the constant throw of the machine lever to the Vthrow of the switch points, which varies with different switches, and from time to time, in the same switch.

In satisfying the above and other considerations, it is highly desirable that parts of -uniform dimension be usable with various switches irrespective of the length of throw of each particular switch. f

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed in accordance with this invention, to provide operating means interconnecting a switch machine and a track switch, which will satisfactorily satisfy all of the above features.

Among the objects of this inventionare, to decrease the cost of manufacture, improve the eliiciency, and lengthen the useful life of devices of the character in question.

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features of the invention will appear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings showing, solely by way of example, one embodiment of the invention. ingszf Fig. l is a plan view of a means in accordance with the invention, together with its associated parts;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a detail, with partsshown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of two elements in detached position but bearing the same relative, operative position as in the assembled device.

In the draw- Referring to the drawings, in Fig; 1 is shown a trackway formed of rails 1, having a track switch 2 with its lfree ends braced by a tie rod 3 and inwardly of its free end, a bar 4. Freely slidable on the bar 4 is a housing 5 having legs 5 straddling the bar 4 and slidably connected thereto by bolts 6. Within the housing 5 is a dog 7, pressedy inwardly by a spring 8 having tension adjusting means 9.

Connected to the housing 5, by means of a depending arm 10, is a rod 11 operated with a reciprocating motion'by means of a power operated switch machine 12 of any usual or suitable form, the essential thing being that the machine, when energized, shall operate the rod 11 and with it the h ouing 5, backward and forward, as desire ln order that the switch machine throw the track switch, when operated, a connec- `bar 4 and nuts 16 on the threaded end 17 of vnarrow lock notch 23, an elongated notch 24 deined by shoulders 24 and 24, and an Velongated notch 25, having a shoulder 25 while the rod 14 has a narrow lock notch 26, lan elongated notch 27 deiined by shoulders 27 and 27 and an elongated notch 28 having a shoulder 28.

In practice the device operates as follows z-If it be desired lto throw the switch 2 from the main line position as shown in Fig. 1, to siding position, the switch machine is energized to move the rod 11 toward the observer. n This will cause the dog 7, to move from its position of Fig. 2, where it is against shoulder 24 of rod 13, through an open space in the rods 13 and 14, until it bears against shoulder 27 ot rod 14;, this movement being lost motion, and no movcment of the switch 2 occurring. As the switch machine continues its stroke, the switch points are thrown to siding position by movement ot rods 13 and 1li and connection 15 by the dog 7.

On reverse movement ot tno track switch, the lirst part ot the stroke ot the switch machine is taken up in lost motion travel from shoulder 27" ot rod 1-1 to shoulder 24 of rod 13, after which the switch is thrown by dog 7 operating against the shoulder 2st.

It clear that relative adjustment, ot rods and 14 by mea-ns ot the connection 13, 19, permits varying the amount ot lost motion travel ot the machine stroke (2#1 to 27) and inversely varying the length ot stroke ot the switch points (24% to 26, 27 to 23) while leaving constant the length ot stroke of the switch machine (2.7 to 2G, and 24s to 23).

n Thus it is possible with this invention, to

connect up a switch machine having a given length stroke, with switch points having varying length strokes, by means or" rods ot uniform design and uniform note-hing, thus greatly simplifying and cheapening the manufacture of devices of this character.

l/V ith the parts in the position ot Figs. 1 and 2, let it be assumed that the switch be trailed through by a train coming on to the main track from the siding. The housing` 5 being held stationary by the switch machine rod 11, movement ot the switch due to trailing, will torce rods 13 and 14 through the opening 20, forcing the dog 7 in *ardly out ot the way, and on completion oit the switch throw, lock notch 26 will be opposite the dog` 7 which will spring therein and lock the switch points in thrown position. 0n a reverse trailing ot the switch points, a reverse operation takes place involving lock notch 23.

ritter such trailing as just described, the switch machine can be operated to cam the dog 7 out ot' the lock notch 23 or 2G as the case may be, and position it in the lost motion space between shoulders 2% and 27, when the parts are ready tor normal operation once more.

Thus, on trailing of the switch points, no injury is possible to any ot the operating parts, and the switch, in the trailed position, is securely locked by a spring detent, until picked np by the switch machine in the normal operating position.

To aid in a ready understanding of this invention, legends have been applied to Fig. 4f, clearly indicating the strokes of the switch machine and the switch points. It should be noted that the indicated switch machine stroke lies between two shoulders on the saine rod, and hence is constant, as it should be, whereas the indicated switch points stroke lies between shoulders on ditierent rods, and thus is adjustably variable by relative movement ot the rods 13 and 1t, as it also should be.

While the invention has been described rather specifically, such description is given solely by way ot illustration and is not to be considered, in any manner whatsoever, in a limited sense. Obviously,the invention can assume many ditlferent physical forms and is susceptible of numerous modifications, and all such forms and modilications are intended to be included in the invention, as come within the scope ot the appended claims.

I-Iaving described my invention, I now claim :M

1. In a switch connection, in combination, a switch, a switch operator, and an operative connection between the operator and the switch including means permitting trailing ofthe switch and locking of the switch in trailed position, and means for adjusting the relation of the stroke of the operator to the stroke of the switch.

2. In a switch connection, in combination, a switch, a switch operator, and an operative connection between the operator and the switch including a resilient detent and notched rods, permitting trailing of the switch and locking ot the switch in trailed position, and adjusting the relation of the stroke ot the operator to the stroke ot the switch.

3. In a switch connection, a switch, a switch machine, a detent member operated by the machine, and relatively adjustable notched rods connecting the detent member with the switch.

4. In a switch connection, a switch, a switch machine, a detent member operated by the machine, relatively adjustable notched rods releasably connecting the detent member with the switch, and locking notches in the rods for locking the switch in place after being trailed through.

5. In a switch connection, superimposed, notched rods adjustably connected toeeach other, the notches being arranged to form a lost motion zone and locking parts, and a rod operator receivable in the notches.

6. In a switch connection, superimposed, notched rods adjustably connected to each other, the notches being arranged to form a lost motion zone, adjustable in size by relative adjustment ot the rods and locking parts, and a spring pressed detent receivable in the notches to operate the rods.

7. In a switch connection, two superimposed rods having an adjustable connection therebetween, variously sized and arranged notches in adjacent edges of the rods, the size and arrangement oi notches in the edge Let/eers ot one rod being the exact duplicate of that of the other rod, but arranged to run from opposite ends of the two rods, respectively, a switch connected to one of the rods, a detent operating inthe rod notches, and a switch machine connected to operate the detent.

8. In a switch connection, a track switch, a switch machine, a housing oper-ably connected to the switch machine by a detent and slidable relatively to the switch, and a plurality of notched rods adjustably connected to the switch and slidable in the housing with their notches in the path of the detent.`

9. In a switch connection, a track switch, a switch machine, a housing operably connected to the switch machine and slidahle relatively to the switch, a spring pressed detent in the housing, a plurality of overlying, interconnected, relatively adjustable, notched rods adjustably connected to the switch and slidable in the housing with their notches in the path of the detent.

l0. In a switch connection, a track switch, a switch machine, a housing operably connected to the switch machine, and slidahley relatively to the switch, a spring' pressed detent in the housing, a plurality of overlying, interconnected, relatively adjustable, notched rods adjustably connected to the switch and slidahle in the housing with their notches in the path ot the detent, said notches including lock notches registrahle with the detent when the switch is trailed, and a lost motion Zone for normally receiving the detent, which is limited by edges of notches in different rods whereby relative` adjustment of the notched rods varies the length of the lost motion zone without disturbing the said registry of the lock notches with the detent. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

` NEIL l). PRESTON. 

